श्लोकः
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पांडवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत संजय ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning
धृतराष्ट्रः उवाच — King Dhritarāṣṭra said; धर्म-क्षेत्रे — in the place of pilgrimage; कुरु-क्षेत्रे — in the place named Kurukṣetra; समवेताः — assembled; युयुत्सवः — desiring to fight; मामकाः — my party (sons); पांडवाः — the sons of Pāṇḍu; च — and; एव — certainly; किम् — what; अकुर्वत — did they do; संजय — O Sañjaya.
Translation
Dhritarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pāṇḍu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukṣetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?
श्लोकः
संजय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पांडवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning
संजयः उवाच — Sañjaya said; दृष्ट्वा — after seeing; तु — but; पांडव-अनीकम् — the soldiers of the Pāṇḍavas; व्यूढम् — arranged in a military phalanx; दुर्योधनः — King Duryodhana; तदा — at that time; आचार्यम् — the teacher; उपसंगम्य — approaching; राजा — the king; वचनम् — words; अब्रवीत् — spoke.
Translation
Sañjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pāṇḍu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.
श्लोकः
पश्यैतां पांडुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning
पश्य — behold; एताम् — this; पांडु-पुत्रानाम् — of the sons of Pāṇḍu; आचार्य — O teacher; महतीम् — great; चमूम् — military force; व्यूढाम् — arranged; द्रुपद-पुत्रेण — by the son of Drupada; तव — your; शिष्येण — disciple; धी-मता — very intelligent.
Translation
O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pāṇḍu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.
श्लोकः
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning
अत्र — here; शूराः — heroes; महा-इषु-आसाः — mighty bowmen; भीम-अर्जुन — to Bhīma and Arjuna; समाः — equal; युधि — in the fight; युयुधानः — Yuyudhāna; विराटः — Virāṭa; च — also; द्रुपदः — Drupada; च — also; महा-रथः — great fighter.
Translation
Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhīma and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa and Drupada.
श्लोकः
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
पुरुजित्कुंतिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning
धृष्टकेतुः — Dhriṣṭaketu; चेकितानः — Cekitāna; काशिराजः — Kāśirāja; च — also; वीर्य-वान् — very powerful; पुरुजित् — Purujit; कुंतिभोजः — Kuntibhoja; च — and; शैब्यः — Śaibya; च — and; नर-पुंगवः — hero in human society.
Translation
There are also great heroic, powerful fighters like Dhriṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Śaibya.
श्लोकः
युधामन्युश्च विक्रांत उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥ 6 ॥
Meaning
युधामन्युः — Yudhāmanyu; च — and; विक्रांतः — mighty; उत्तमौजाः — Uttamaujā; च — and; वीर्य-वान् — very powerful; सौभद्रः — the son of Subhadrā; द्रौपदेयाः — the sons of Draupadī; च — and; सर्वे — all; एव — certainly; महा-रथाः — great chariot fighters.
Translation
There are the mighty Yudhāmanyu, the very powerful Uttamaujā, the son of Subhadrā and the sons of Draupadī. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.
श्लोकः
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थ तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ 7 ॥
Meaning
अस्माकम् — our; तु — but; विशिष्टाः — especially powerful; ये — who; तान् — them; निबोध — just take note of, be informed; द्विज-उत्तम — O best of the brāhmaṇas; नायकाः — captains; मम — my; सैन्यस्य — of the soldiers; संज्ञा-अर्थम् — for information; तान् — them; ब्रवीमि — I am speaking; ते — to you.
Translation
But for your information, O best of the brāhmaṇas, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.
श्लोकः
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥ 8 ॥
Meaning
भवान् — your good self; भीष्मः — Grandfather Bhīṣma; च — also; कर्णः — Karṇa; च — and; कृपः — Kripa; च — and; समितिम्-जयः — always victorious in battle; अश्वत्थामा — Aśvatthāmā; विकर्णः — Vikarṇa; च — as well as; सौमदत्तिः — the son of Somadatta; तथा — as well as; एव — certainly; च — also.
Translation
There are personalities like you, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Kripa, Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa and the son of Somadatta called Bhūriśravā, who are always victorious in battle.
श्लोकः
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥ 9 ॥
Meaning
अन्ये — others; च — also; बहवः — in great numbers; शूराः — heroes; मत्-अर्थे — for my sake; त्यक्त-जीविताः — prepared to risk life; नाना — many; शस्त्र — weapons; प्रहरणाः — equipped with; सर्वे — all of them; युद्ध-विशारदाः — experienced in military science.
Translation
There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.
श्लोकः
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ 10 ॥
Meaning
अपर्याप्तम् — immeasurable; तत् — that; अस्माकम् — of ours; बलम् — strength; भीष्म — by Grandfather Bhīṣma; अभिरक्षितम् — perfectly protected; पर्याप्तम् — limited; तु — but; इदम् — all this; एतेषाम् — of the Pāṇḍavas; बलम् — strength; भीम — by Bhīma; अभिरक्षितम् — carefully protected.
Translation
Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhīṣma, whereas the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, carefully protected by Bhīma, is limited.
श्लोकः
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागवमस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षंतु भवंतः सर्व एव हि ॥ 11 ॥
Meaning
अयनेषु — in the strategic points; च — also; सर्वेषु — everywhere; यथा-भागम् — as differently arranged; अवस्थिताः — situated; भीष्मम् — unto Grandfather Bhīṣma; एव — certainly; अभिरक्षंतु — should give support; भवंतः — you; सर्वे — all respectively; एव हि — certainly.
Translation
All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhīṣma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.
श्लोकः
तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चऐः शंखं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ 12 ॥
Meaning
तस्य — his; संजनयन् — increasing; हर्षम् — cheerfulness; कुरु-वृद्धः — the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma); पितामहः — the grandfather; सिंह-नादम् — roaring sound, like that of a lion; विनद्य — vibrating; उच्चैः — very loudly; शंखम् — conchshell; दध्मौ — blew; प्रताप-वान् — the valiant.
Translation
Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.
श्लोकः
ततः शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यंत स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ 13 ॥
Meaning
ततः — thereafter; शंखाः — conchshells; च — also; भेर्यः — large drums; च — and; पणव-आनक — small drums and kettledrums; गो-मुखाः — horns; सहसा — all of a sudden; एव — certainly; अभ्यहन्यंत — were simultaneously sounded; सः — that; शब्दः — combined sound; तुमुलः — tumultuous; अभवत् — became.
Translation
After that, the conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.
श्लोकः
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यंदने स्थितौ ।
माधवः पांडवश्चैव दिव्यौ शंखौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥ 14 ॥
Meaning
ततः — thereafter; श्वेतैः — with white; हयैः — horses; युक्ते — being yoked; महति — in a great; स्यंदने — chariot; स्थितौ — situated; माधवः — Kriṣṇa (the husband of the goddess of fortune); पांडवः — Arjuna (the son of Pāṇḍu); च — also; एव — certainly; दिव्यौ — transcendental; शंखौ — conchshells; प्रदध्मतुः — sounded.
Translation
On the other side, both Lord Kriṣṇa and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.
श्लोकः
पांचजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः ।
पौंड्रं दध्मौ महाशंखं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥ 15 ॥
Meaning
पांचजन्यम् — the conchshell named Pāñcajanya; हृषीक-ईशः — Hriṣīkeśa (Kriṣṇa, the Lord who directs the senses of the devotees); देवदत्तम् — the conchshell named Devadatta; धनम्-जयः — Dhanañjaya (Arjuna, the winner of wealth); पौंड्रम् — the conch named Pauṇḍra; दध्मौ — blew; महा-शंखम् — the terrific conchshell; भीम-कर्मा — one who performs herculean tasks; वृक-उदरः — the voracious eater (Bhīma).
Translation
Lord Kriṣṇa blew His conchshell, called Pāñcajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhīma, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Pauṇḍra.
श्लोकः
अनंतविजयं राजा कुंतीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥ 16 ॥
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखंडी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥ 17 ॥
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शंखांदध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 18 ॥
Meaning
अनंत-विजयम् — the conch named Ananta-vijaya; राजा — the king; कुंती-पुत्रः — the son of Kuntī; युधिष्ठिरः — Yudhiṣṭhira; नकुलः — Nakula; सहदेवः — Sahadeva; च — and; सुघोष-मणिपुष्पकौ — the conches named Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka; काश्यः — the King of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī); च — and; परम-इषु-आसः — the great archer; शिखंडी — Śikhaṇḍī; च — also; महा-रथः — one who can fight alone against thousands; धृष्टद्युम्नः — Dhriṣṭadyumna (the son of King Drupada); विराटः — Virāṭa (the prince who gave shelter to the Pāṇḍavas while they were in disguise); च — also; सात्यकिः — Sātyaki (the same as Yuyudhāna, the charioteer of Lord Kriṣṇa); च — and; अपराजितः — who had never been vanquished; द्रुपदः — Drupada, the King of Pāñcāla; द्रौपदेयाः — the sons of Draupadī; च — also; सर्वशः — all; पृथिवी-पते — O King; सौभद्रः — Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā; च — also; महा-बाहुः — mighty-armed; शंखान् — conchshells; दध्मुः — blew; पृथक् पृथक् — each separately.
Translation
King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, blew his conchshell, the Ananta-vijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. That great archer the King of Kāśī, the great fighter Śikhaṇḍī, Dhriṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, the unconquerable Sātyaki, Drupada, the sons of Draupadī, and others, O King, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadrā, all blew their respective conchshells.
श्लोकः
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् ॥ 19 ॥
Meaning
सः — that; घोषः — vibration; धार्तराष्ट्राणाम् — of the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra; हृदयानि — hearts; व्यदारयत् — shattered; नभः — the sky; च — also; पृथिवीम् — the surface of the earth; च — also; एव — certainly; तुमुलः — uproarious; अभ्यनुनादयन् — resounding.
Translation
The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra.
श्लोकः
अथ व्यवस्थितांदृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पांडवः ।
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥ 20 ॥
Meaning
अथ — thereupon; व्यवस्थितान् — situated; दृष्ट्वा — looking upon; धार्तराष्ट्रान् — the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra; कपि-ध्वजः — he whose flag was marked with Hanumān; प्रवृत्ते — while about to engage; शस्त्र-संपाते — in releasing his arrows; धनुः — bow; उद्यम्य — taking up; पांडवः — the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna); हृषीकेशम् — unto Lord Kriṣṇa; तदा — at that time; वाक्यम् — words; इदम् — these; आह — said; मही-पते — O King.
Translation
At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kriṣṇa these words.
श्लोकः
अर्जुन उवाच
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ।
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ॥ 21 ॥
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ॥ 22 ॥
Meaning
अर्जुनः उवाच — Arjuna said; सेनयोः — of the armies; उभयोः — both; मध्ये — between; रथम् — the chariot; स्थापय — please keep; मे — my; अच्युत — O infallible one; यावत् — as long as; एतान् — all these; निरीक्षे — may look upon; अहम् — I; योद्धु-कामान् — desiring to fight; अवस्थितान् — arrayed on the battlefield; कैः — with whom; मया — by me; सह — together; योद्धव्यम् — have to fight; अस्मिन् — in this; रण — strife; समुद्यमे — in the attempt.
Translation
Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.
श्लोकः
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ 23 ॥
Meaning
योत्स्यमानान् — those who will be fighting; अवेक्षे — let me see; अहम् — I; ये — who; एते — those; अत्र — here; समागताः — assembled; धार्तराष्ट्रस्य — for the son of Dhritarāṣṭra; दुर्बुद्धेः — evil-minded; युद्धे — in the fight; प्रिय — well; चिकीर्षवः — wishing.
Translation
Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarāṣṭra.
श्लोकः
संजय उवाच
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ 24 ॥
Meaning
संजयः उवाच — Sañjaya said; एवम् — thus; उक्तः — addressed; हृषीकेशः — Lord Kriṣṇa; गुडाकेशेन — by Arjuna; भारत — O descendant of Bharata; सेनयोः — of the armies; उभयोः — both; मध्ये — in the midst; स्थापयित्वा — placing; रथ-उत्तमम् — the finest chariot.
Translation
Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Kriṣṇa drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.
श्लोकः
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरुनिति ॥ 25 ॥
Meaning
भीष्म — Grandfather Bhīṣma; द्रोण — the teacher Droṇa; प्रमुखतः — in front of; सर्वेषाम् — all; च — also; मही-क्षिताम् — chiefs of the world; उवाच — said; पार्थ — O son of Prithā; पश्य — just behold; एतान् — all of them; समवेतान् — assembled; कुरून् — the members of the Kuru dynasty; इति — thus.
Translation
In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, “Just behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus assembled here.”
श्लोकः
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्।
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा।
श्वशउरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ॥ 26 ॥
Meaning
तत्र — there; अपश्यत् — he could see; स्थितान् — standing; पार्थः — Arjuna; पितॄन् — fathers; अथ — also; पितामहान् — grandfathers; आचार्यान् — teachers; मातुलान् — maternal uncles; भ्रातॄन् — brothers; पुत्रान् — sons; पौत्रान् — grandsons; सखीन् — friends; तथा — too; श्वशुरान् — fathers-in-law; सुहृदः — well-wishers; च — also; एव — certainly; सेनयोः — of the armies; उभयोः — of both parties; अपि — including.
Translation
There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his fathers-in-law and well-wishers.
श्लोकः
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौंतेयः सर्वान्बंधूनवस्थितान् ।
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ 27 ॥
Meaning
तान् — all of them; समीक्ष्य — after seeing; सः — he; कौंतेयः — the son of Kuntī; सर्वान् — all kinds of; बंधून् — relatives; अवस्थितान् — situated; कृपया — by compassion; परया — of a high grade; आविष्टः — overwhelmed; विषीदन् — while lamenting; इदम् — thus; अब्रवीत् — spoke.
Translation
When the son of Kuntī, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.
श्लोकः
अर्जुन उवाच
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ।
सीदंति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशउष्यति ॥ 28 ॥
Meaning
अर्जुनः उवाच — Arjuna said; दृष्ट्वा — after seeing; इमम् — all these; स्व-जनम् — kinsmen; कृष्ण — O Kriṣṇa; युयुत्सुम् — all in a fighting spirit; समुपस्थितम् — present; सीदंति — are quivering; मम — my; गात्राणि — limbs of the body; मुखम् — mouth; च — also; परिशुष्यति — is drying up.
Translation
Arjuna said: My dear Kriṣṇa, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up.
श्लोकः
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ।
गांडीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चऐव परिदह्यते ॥ 29 ॥
Meaning
वेपथुः — trembling of the body; च — also; शरीरे — on the body; मे — my; रोम-हर्षः — standing of hair on end; च — also; जायते — is taking place; गांडीवम् — the bow of Arjuna; स्रंसते — is slipping; हस्तात् — from the hand; त्वक् — skin; च — also; एव — certainly; परिदह्यते — is burning.
Translation
My whole body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow Gāṇḍīva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.
श्लोकः
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ।
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ॥ 30 ॥
Meaning
न — nor; च — also; शक्नोमि — am I able; अवस्थातुम् — to stay; भ्रमति — forgetting; इव — as; च — and; मे — my; मनः — mind; निमित्तानि — causes; च — also; पश्यामि — I see; विपरीतानि — just the opposite; केशव — O killer of the demon Keśī (Kriṣṇa).
Translation
I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Kriṣṇa, killer of the Keśī demon.
श्लोकः
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ।
न कांक्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ॥ 31 ॥
Meaning
न — nor; च — also; श्रेयः — good; अनुपश्यामि — do I foresee; हत्वा — by killing; स्व-जनम् — own kinsmen; आहवे — in the fight; न — nor; कांक्षे — do I desire; विजयम् — victory; कृष्ण — O Kriṣṇa; न — nor; च — also; राज्यम् — kingdom; सुखानि — happiness thereof; च — also.
Translation
I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Kriṣṇa, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom or happiness.
श्लोकः
किं नो राज्येन गोविंद किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ।
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ॥ 32 ॥
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ।
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ॥ 33 ॥
मातुलाः श्वशउराः पौत्राः श्यालाः संबंधिनस्तथा ।
एतान्न हंतुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ॥ 34 ॥
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ।
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ॥ 35 ॥
Meaning
किम् — what use; नः — to us; राज्येन — is the kingdom; गोविंद — O Kriṣṇa; किम् — what; भोगैः — enjoyment; जीवितेन — living; वा — either; येषाम् — of whom; अर्थे — for the sake; कांक्षितम् — is desired; नः — by us; राज्यम् — kingdom; भोगाः — material enjoyment; सुखानि — all happiness; च — also; ते — all of them; इमे — these; अवस्थिताः — situated; युद्धे — on this battlefield; प्राणान् — lives; त्यक्त्वा — giving up; धनानि — riches; च — also; आचार्याः — teachers; पितरः — fathers; पुत्राः — sons; तथा — as well as; एव — certainly; च — also; पितामहाः — grandfathers; मातुलाः — maternal uncles; श्वशुराः — fathers-in-law; पौत्राः — grandsons; श्यालाः — brothers-in-law; संबंधिनः — relatives; तथा — as well as; एतान् — all these; न — never; हंतुम् — to kill; इच्चामि — do I wish; घ्नतः — being killed; अपि — even; मधुसूदन — O killer of the demon Madhu (Kriṣṇa); अपि — even if; त्रै-लोक्य — of the three worlds; राज्यस्य — for the kingdom; हेतोः — in exchange; किं नु — what to speak of; मही-कृते — for the sake of the earth; निहत्य — by killing; धार्तराष्ट्रान् — the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra; नः — our; का — what; प्रीतिः — pleasure; स्यात् — will there be; जनार्दन — O maintainer of all living entities.
Translation
O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra?
श्लोकः
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ।
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हंतुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्सबांधवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ 36 ॥
Meaning
पापम् — vices; एव — certainly; आश्रयेत् — must come upon; अस्मान् — us; हत्वा — by killing; एतान् — all these; आततायिनः — aggressors; तस्मात् — therefore; न — never; अर्हाः — deserving; वयम् — we; हंतुम् — to kill; धार्तराष्ट्रान् — the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra; स-बांधवान् — along with friends; स्व-जनम् — kinsmen; हि — certainly; कथम् — how; हत्वा — by killing; सुखिनः — happy; स्याम — will we become; माधव — O Kriṣṇa, husband of the goddess of fortune.
Translation
Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra and our friends. What should we gain, O Kriṣṇa, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?
श्लोकः
यद्यप्येते न पश्यंति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ 37 ॥
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मन्निवर्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भइर्जनार्दन ॥ 38 ॥
Meaning
यदि — if; अपि — even; एते — they; न — do not; पश्यंति — see; लोभ — by greed; उपहत — overpowered; चेतसः — their hearts; कुल-क्षय — in killing the family; कृतम् — done; दोषम् — fault; मित्र-द्रोहे — in quarreling with friends; च — also; पातकम् — sinful reactions; कथम् — why; न — should not; ज्ञेयम् — be known; अस्माभिः — by us; पापात् — from sins; अस्मात् — these; निवर्तितुम् — to cease; कुल-क्षय — in the destruction of a dynasty; कृतम् — done; दोषम् — crime; प्रपश्यद्भिः — by those who can see; जनार्दन — O Kriṣṇa.
Translation
O Janārdana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin?
श्लोकः
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यंति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ 39 ॥
Meaning
कुल-क्षये — in destroying the family; प्रणश्यंति — become vanquished; कुल-धर्माः — the family traditions; सनातनाः — eternal; धर्मे — religion; नष्टे — being destroyed; कुलम् — family; कृत्स्नम् — whole; अधर्मः — irreligion; अभिभवति — transforms; उत — it is said.
Translation
With the destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.
श्लोकः
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यंति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः ॥ 40 ॥
Meaning
अधर्म — irreligion; अभिभवात् — having become predominant; कृष्ण — O Kriṣṇa; प्रदुष्यंति — become polluted; कुल-स्त्रियः — family ladies; स्त्रीषु — by the womanhood; दुष्टासु — being so polluted; वार्ष्णेय — O descendant of Vriṣṇi; जायते — comes into being; वर्ण-संकरः — unwanted progeny.
Translation
When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Kriṣṇa, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vriṣṇi, comes unwanted progeny.
श्लोकः
संकरो नरकायैव कुलघ्नआनां कुलस्य च ।
पतंति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिंडोदकक्रियाः ॥ 41 ॥
Meaning
संकरः — such unwanted children; नरकाय — make for hellish life; एव — certainly; कुल-घ्नानाम् — for those who are killers of the family; कुलस्य — for the family; च — also; पतंति — fall down; पितरः — forefathers; हि — certainly; एषाम् — of them; लुप्त — stopped; पिंड — of offerings of food; उदक — and water; क्रियाः — performances.
Translation
An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.
श्लोकः
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नआनां वर्णसंकरकारकैः ।
उत्साद्यंते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ 42 ॥
Meaning
दोषैः — by such faults; एतैः — all these; कुल-घ्नानाम् — of the destroyers of the family; वर्ण-संकर — of unwanted children; कारकैः — which are causes; उत्साद्यंते — are devastated; जाति-धर्माः — community projects; कुल-धर्माः — family traditions; च — also; शाश्वताः — eternal.
Translation
By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated.
श्लोकः
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशउश्रुम ॥ 43 ॥
Meaning
उत्सन्न — spoiled; कुल-धर्माणाम् — of those who have the family traditions; मनुष्याणाम् — of such men; जनार्दन — O Kriṣṇa; नरके — in hell; नियतम् — always; वासः — residence; भवति — it so becomes; इति — thus; अनुशुश्रुम — I have heard by disciplic succession.
Translation
O Kriṣṇa, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.
श्लोकः
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हंतुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ 44 ॥
Meaning
अहो — alas; बत — how strange it is; महत् — great; पापम् — sins; कर्तुम् — to perform; व्यवसिताः — have decided; वयम् — we; यत् — because; राज्य-सुख-लोभेन — driven by greed for royal happiness; हंतुम् — to kill; स्व-जनम् — kinsmen; उद्यताः — trying.
Translation
Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
श्लोकः
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ 45 ॥
Meaning
यदि — even if; माम् — me; अप्रतीकारम् — without being resistant; अशस्त्रम् — without being fully equipped; शस्त्र-पाणयः — those with weapons in hand; धार्तराष्ट्राः — the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra; रणे — on the battlefield; हन्युः — may kill; तत् — that; मे — for me; क्षेम-तरम् — better; भवेत् — would be.
Translation
Better for me if the sons of Dhritarāṣṭra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.
श्लोकः
संजय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ 46 ॥
Meaning
संजयः उवाच — Sañjaya said; एवम् — thus; उक्त्वा — saying; अर्जुनः — Arjuna; संख्ये — in the battlefield; रथ — of the chariot; उपस्थे — on the seat; उपाविशत् — sat down again; विसृज्य — putting aside; स-शरम् — along with arrows; चापम् — the bow; शोक — by lamentation; संविग्न — distressed; मानसः — within the mind.
Translation
Sañjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.
Browse Related Categories:
